Obama to Pitch Immigration Reform Abroad–Again

The Los Angeles Timesreports that Barack Obama, taking advantage of the opportunity of being in a foreign country to stump for immigration reform, was scheduled to speak on Friday to a South Korean audience to make his pitch.

Obama is ostensibly in South Korea for a naturalization ceremony for 13 U.S. servicemembers and seven spouses of military members. According to the Times, “The ceremony offers a rare setting for a recurrent Obama message: that the U.S. will benefit if immigrants who already make the sacrifices of citizenship can enjoy the rights and privileges that go along with it.”

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This isn’t the first time Obama has used his presence abroad to sell his immigration stance. In May 2013, speaking in Mexico, Obama used the opportunity to blast America while selling immigration reform. He said:

Some Americans only see the Mexico depicted in sensational headlines of violence and border crossings….I have come to Mexico because it is time to put old mindsets aside. It’s time to recognize new realities, including the impressive progress in today’s Mexico….In the United States, we recognize our responsibilities as well. We understand that the root cause of much of the violence here–and so much suffering for many Mexicans–is the demand for illegal drugs, including in the United States.

I’m working with our Congress to pass common sense immigration reform. Reform that continues to strengthen border security and strengthen legal immigration, so citizens don’t have to wait years to bring their family to the United States.